Louie: The Three Rules

I've been letting the third part of Louie's "Late Show" trilogy marinate in my noggin for a while now.  It's not because I didn't like it.  On the contrary, it was one of the most fulfilling episodes this season.  Instead I couldn't think of way to approach the material.  I continuously draw parallels to what Louie is going through, because of similarities to not only age but disposition.  Yes, we're both forty-something but I also find myself to be a selfish individual who prefers to take the easy and familiar path.  I love ferociously but find it difficult to make strong interpersonal connections.  I am content in my work and hunger for new challenges but lack the confidence to explore possibilities.

This "Late Show" arc seems tailor made for me, and now I struggle to embrace the "lessons" within.

The episode starts with Louie still under the tutelage of Jack Dall, again made obliquely great by film director David Lynch.  Dall is at the end of his rope, because of Louie's fear of success.  Echoing what Louie's ex-wife Janet told him in last week's episode, Dall says, "If you wanna get a big thing in life, you gotta make a big effort.  You gotta try hard.  You gotta do things you're not used to doing."  He's pushing Louie to admit what he want, and get him to shake the fear.  Where Janet used guilt as velvet hammer in Part 2, Dall attacks with shame, calling him "a rookie" and pointing out his fear is controlling him.

It's an intense and difficult scene to watch, and Louie is ready to give up before he says what everyone feels when faced with the potentially life changing choice:  "Look, I can't give up on this.  I don't...This is either a door or a wall for me.  It's either the beginning or the end."  One of the greatest things about Louie is that it achieves a universality by relishing the specific.  There's no possible way that anyone other than comedians can begin to understand what it would mean to be offered one of the late night hosting spots on broadcast television, but by fully exploring what this means to the world of Louie we can draw our own parallels to our lives.

Fortunately there's still some great comedic bits here:  Jane's calling him a Fat Daddy, Louie's infantile outburst that buys him another week of Dall's time, Louie interviewing a cleaning lady until she cries, Louie's profanity tirade as he is trying a private screen test at home.  These are balanced by the heartwarming moments:  the girl's "Daddy Night Live" homemade card, Janet's belief in him and the three boys that follow him as he's running down the street (one of many homages to the Rocky franchise that this arc has provided).  

Then comes the showcase bit of the episode--the test show.  Obviously nervous before going on Louie gets one last bit of advice from Jack Dall.  Dall imparts the Three Rules of Show Business:

1. Look them in eye and speak from the heart
2. You gotta go away to come back
3. If someone asks you to keep a secret, their secret is a lie.

The first two are pieces of good advice/rules for any business, but the third one has special meaning for this episode and this arc.  Immediately following Dall's exit, Jerry Seinfeld appears not to wish Louie luck before his test show, but to crash his spirit.  Jerry tells his friend that Jerry was offered the Late Show gig that morning.  Louie is devastated until Jerry says as he is exiting, that the offer is a secret and not to tell anyone.  Knowing now the third rule, Louie is invigorated and finds the confidence to give the show of his life.  He is confident, relaxed, warm and in control.  He's charming with Susan Sarandon and witty with Paul Rudd.  It's such a success that even Lars Tardigan is impressed, and thrilled to have "an option."

But here's the thing, in "Late Show (Part 1)" Lars Tardigan (played by Garry Marshall) started this whole plot in motion by telling Louie that Letterman was retiring, and asking him to keep it a secret.  A secret to be kept which is a lie.  Tardigan was using Louie as a negotiating tactic against Letterman, and the successful test show gets Letterman to sign a new ten year deal for less money.  To add further insult to injury, Louie learns that he is now dead to the Letterman show, eliminating one of the most important outlets for his line of work.

Is Louie devastated?  Yes.  But he's also triumphant.  For Louie the journey wasn't just an outward one to financial and professional success, but an internal one where he overcomes his demons, examines himself and finds himself worthy.  His barbaric yawps at the Lettterman marquee is one of the most gratifying moments of the entire series to date.  Even in losing, Louie wins.

This "Late Show" arc has been inspiring and ultimately troubling personally.  I don't know if I have it in me to get up and try.  I'd be lying if I didn't say that resurrecting this blog is an attempt to change the professional pattern of my life, but do I have the balls to shake the familiar and do the things that I'm not used to doing?  To "make the big effort?"  Hmm...right now it's all I can do to get up mow the grass.